I wanted to be the first to start a thread about the wonderful, very talented writer Dan Simmons! I know that there's lots of us on here who have enjoyed his works. I just came back from a trip to Seattle to meet him at his book signing (for his newest novel 'The Abominable') at Third Place Books this past week. This is the fifth time I have met him. He has written in pretty much every genre of fiction, be it horror, suspense and thriller and has mastered each one! Stephen King has called Simmon's horror novel 'Summer Of Night' the 'best horror novel in the last five years (1991), it is surely one of the best three'. King is quoted as saying 'I am in awe of Dan Simmons.' Simmon's 1st novel 'Song Of Kali' made me want to never visit Calcutta, ever! He has won numerous awards, both in the sci-fi genre and the horror genre. His last four novels 'The Terror, Drood, Black Hills and Flashback' have all been bestsellers, so he is finally getting the recognition for his writings that he has deserved for many years. His first short story 'The River Styx Runs Upstream' was voted best short story by Twilight Zone magazine when it was submitted. If you need a new author to read I don't think you can go wrong with Simmons!